Char retort



July 11, 1 933. I J. F. STRAITZ 1,917,339

RRRRRRRRR T J. F. STRAITZ July 11, 1933,

CHAR RETORT Filed June 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I /VM/ /7/ //H m m F a U1 %%P I //m/ Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN I. STRAITZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR, TO NATTONAL AIROIL BURNER COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CHAR RETORT Application filed June 17,

My invention relates to improvements in char retorts. The object is to provide a construction, having a maximum strength and also an increased exterior area exposed to the heat of the kiln and an increased interior area exposed to the char. The construction also comprises sections and means for assembling the same whereby a section may be removed, in case it has become distorted or ineflective,and a new section substituted in its place.

The construction, in accordance with my invention, provides a retort having a strength and life in the ratio of about four to one, as compared with the retorts now in common use, and presents correspondingly increased outside and inside heating surfaces, with its maximum diameters substantially the same. as that of retorts now in common use.

The construction, in accordance with my invention, may also provide means whereby the char is made to travel in a helical path of travel, thereby improving the quality of the product delivered thereby.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention 1-- Fig.1 is an elevation of a complete retort showing straight corrugations.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing helically extending corrugations.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged I scale, on line 3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar cross-section on line 4, 4: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of construction shown in Fig. 1, also on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6, 60f Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the assembling sleeve.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section similar to Fig. '3, but showing the outer surface of the retort plain, instead of corrugated.

Fig. 9 is an elevation, on a reduced scale, showing a section with straight corrugations combined with a'sectionwith helical corrugations.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sections in vertical planes at right angles with each showing the interior surface of the same.

1931. Serial No. 544,961.

other, showing the association of the retorts with the kiln, the scale being further reduced. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper retort section, shown in Fig. 2,

Similar numerals refer'to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the char retorts now in commonuse in.

outside, and the walls are about three quarters of an inch thick. When subjected to the intense heat of the kiln'the retort is liable to buckle, thereby causing delay andexpense in renewlng;

In accordance with the present invention" the retort unit is made in two sectlons, eachv about four feet long. These sections are provided with smooth oval flanges or reduced end portions 9 at top and bottom and are secured together by a sleeve 10 of length about double the len th of a flange. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 t e inner corrugations 11 may be made to taper toward'the flanges.

The maximum outer cross-sectional dimensions of the retort, in accordance with my invention, is substantially the same as in the retorts now in common use, that is about six and a half inches by fourteen inches, and the normalthickness of thewalls is about three quarters of an inch. As shown in the cross sectional views however, the walls are formed with corrugations 12 running from topto bottom of the retort. These corrugations may be straight, as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be helical, as shown in Fig. 2. While the arc-shaped'formations 12 of the wall are about three quarters of an inch in thickness, it will be noted that, with respect to the inner surface, these arc-shaped formations are developed into planes oining at an acute angle,

thereby forming ridges 11 (or points in crosssection) extending into the retort chamber 13. These ridges may be staggered, as shown in Fig. 3, or they maybe oppositely disposed,

as shown in Fig. 4; in either case, it will be 9,. extends to the outer margin of the arenoted that these ridges 11 are of greater radial wall thickness than that of the areshaped portions 12 of the wall. These ridges 11 therefore not only form strengthening strips which contribute largely to the prevention of the buckling above referred to, but also provide an interior wall area equal to or slightly greater than the exterior wall area. They thus present large heating surfaces in the inner wall surfaceof the retort chamber 13. The thickness of the ridge portions 11 is increased by the joinder of the outer faces of the arc-shaped formations 12, which joinder is in the form of a reversed are 14. V

The sleeve 10, which fits over to adjacent or abutting reduced end portions or flanges shaped formations 12, thus forming the completed retort as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. and 11. are fragmentary sections of a conventional kiln showing the retorts there- 1n. flanges 9 engage with suitable feeding spouts ofv the char pocket 15. The reduced lower ends of the retorts are shown engaged with and delivering to discharge and cooler pipes 18. a The flues for burnt products are shown j at 20. A fuel oil burner is shown at 21, in

Fig. 11, and peep holes are shown at 17.

In 0pe1'a't'i0n.T.hese retort units in actogether with a sleeve, are adapted to be fitted into the standard kilns, and to cooperate with the feeding and discharging elements associated therewith;

The increased outer surface exposed to the heat of the kiln and the still greater increased,

interior surfaceto which the char is exposed,

greatly increase the efliciency of the action arc-shaped portions developed into planes distortion and buckling, and thus add sub-' joining at acute angles and thereby forming the ridges 11, contribute greatly to prevent stantially to the life of the retort. The smooth development of the curvedvsurfaces betweenthe channel-ridges of the interior wall surface facilitates the passage of thechar through the retort Withoutclogging,

- The removable sections make possible the substitution of a new for a damaged section of a retort and thus greatly reduces labor and expense which would otherwise be involved in relacing the entire retort. The helical formation of the interior ridges and channels causes a whirling of the char, carrying more material to the walls of the retort and thus securing a more eflicient treatment and finer product.

nally extending ridges and channels and the st-antial efficiency.

The reduced upper end portions, on

are of helical form whereas if the rid es and channels of the upper section or portion are straight, the char passing therethrough is sufiicientlyheated and dried to respond to the'fwhirling action due to the helical ridges and channels of the lowersection or portion without danger of clogging.

It will also be understood that the inner corrugations-or ribs and channels are the more important, as providing maximum heating surface acting'upon'the charfand that the outer side orsurface of the'ret'ort may besmooth or plain, that is without corrugations, as in Fig. 8, and. still have .sub-

What I claim is 1. A vertical retort comprising elongated tubular sections, each section having at each end reduced end portions, a cooperating separable sleeve. adapted to receive a reduced end of each of two of said sections when the two sectionsare brought into vertical alinement and abutting with one end of' one ofthe two sections'resting upon one end ofthe other section, and all of said reduced end portions '9 of said sections having the. same dimensions so that said sections areindependently-removable and replaceable with either, .end uppermost.

2. A vertical char retort having, asito its?"- interior wall surface, substantially parallel longitudinally extending channels arranged side by side and havingth'e surfaces of each two of the adjacent channels meet each other inan acute angle andthe bottom-portions? thereof are shaped in cross-section, ;and merging at the opposite sides thereof, into other surfaces, the adjacent other surfaces joining eachother and. thereby forming said acute angles so that the width across each 0161 the channels increases progressively from the bottom portion thereof. to the two acute angles at the opposite sides of the channel,

and the exterior wallsurface-of the retort so formed and disposed, relatively to said ilref terior wall surface, that the thickness of the retort wall at the ridges is'approx-imately .double that of the intermediatewall-portions, as and for the purpose specified.

8, A vertical char retort having, as to its: interior wall surface, substantially'parallel longitudinally extending helical channels arranged side by side and having the surfaces of each two of the adjacent channels meet each other in an acute angle-and the bottom portions thereof arc'shaped in cross-section,

and merging at the opposite sides thereof,

into other surfaces, the adjacent othervsurfaces oining each other and thereby forming said acute angles'so that the width acrossf stantially parallel straight channels and ridges extending substantially longitudinally of said section, the lower section having, as to its interior wall surface, substantially parallel helical channels and ridges extending substantially longitudinally of said 10W- er section.

JOHN F. STRAITZ. 

